Irving leads way as Celtics rout Knicks

12/07/2018 1:23

Kyrie Irving collected 22 points and eight assists as the host Boston Celtics
placed seven in double figures and recorded a wire-to-wire 128-100 victory
over the New York Knicks on Thursday night to extend their winning streak to
four games.

Irving recorded his 15th game with at least 20 points and led Boston in
scoring for the 13th time. His showing helped the Celtics win for the fifth
time in six games since a 117-109 home loss to New York on Nov. 21 in a game
Boston trailed by 26 at one point.

Irving shot 9 of 15 and hit three 3-pointers as the Celtics matched a
season-best by shooting 53.3 percent and reached 120 points for the fourth
time. The Celtics also scored at least 115 points in four straight games for
the first time since December 1990.

Irving ended the game wearing an ice wrap on his right shoulder as the Celtics
set a season high in points and in assists with 32.

Boston's Jaylen Brown added a season-best 21 and shot 7 of 10 after sitting
out the previous three games with a back injury. Al Horford added 19 points
and a season-high 12 rebounds while Jayson Tatum contributed 17 points for the
Celtics.

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 22 points for the Knicks, who lost their second
straight since an overtime win over Milwaukee on Saturday. Emmanuel Mudiay
added 17 points and Enes Kanter contributed 14 points and 11 boards as the
Knicks shot 39.6 percent.

The Celtics shot 55.1 percent in the first half and took a 69-58 lead by
halftime.

The Knicks were within 43-40 on a 3-pointer by rookie Kevin Knox with about 9
1/2 minutes left in the half, but Terry Rozier hit two 3-pointers in a 10-4
run. New York was within five points three times in the final 4 1/2 minutes of
the quarter, but Horford had two dunks and scored Boston's last 11 points
before the break.

The Knicks were within 89-82 on a 3-pointer by Hardaway with 3:49 left in the
third quarter, but Irving and Gordon Hayward hit 3-pointers and Boston
finished the period with a 10-2 run to take a 15-point lead into the fourth.